Labeling-machine.



G. A. ANDERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1911 Patented July 9, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. A. ANDERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED FEB. 21. 1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patented July 9, 1918.

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G. A. ANDERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED ma. 2:. 191.7.

Patented July 9,1918

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

w [ntenzov ficoz'gq lizindew'on.

G. A. ANDERSON.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. ,21. 1917. 1 ,2? 1,989. Patented July 9, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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GEORGE ARVID ANDERSON, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0 DAVID P. THOMAS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ,AND ONE- FOURTHTO ESKIL B. RENBLOM, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

LABELING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed February 21, 1917. Serial No. 150,048.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE ARVID AN- nnnsomgacitizen of the United States, residing at WVorcester, in the county oflVorcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Labeling-Machines, of which the following is aspecification accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanism for automaticallyapplying labels to receptacles of various kinds, such as bottles, cans,and the like, which is simple in construction and capable ofrapidoperation. This object amongothers I accomplish by the mechanismhereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings whichrepresents a machine adapted for applying labels to bottles.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of any improved labeling machine.

Fig. 2 is a detached plan view of mechanism for imparting anintermittent rotary movement to the framework carrying the labelapplying blades.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the feeding mechanism by which the bottles arepresented to the machine, represented upon a larger scale than thatshown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism for gumming thelabels and applying the gummed label to the surface of a bottle, shownupon the same scale as Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the rear side of.

the machine.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the label holding rotating the frameworkcarrying the gumming blades and the driving mechanism for the upperbottle carrying chains F g.- 2 is a deta hed P an VleW of the frame uponwhich the gumming blades are mounted.

Figs. 13 and let are detached views illustrating the cams employed foroperating respectively a part of the feeding mechanism and a part of thelabel aflixing mechanism.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the differentfigures.

The machine of the present invention includes the followinginstrumentalities:A bottle feeding mechanism, constituted preferably byan endless traveling chain or belt, upon which the bottles are placedindiscriminately by an attendant, said feeding mechanism being adaptedto advance the bottles in regular order, at predetermined intervals oftime, to a conveying mechanism, whose operation is suitably coordinatedwith the label aflixing instrumentalities of the machine. Said conveyingmechanism, which receives the bottles successively and at regularintervals from the feeding mechanism, is preferably constituted by aplurality of endless chains or belts, namely a lower conveying beltengaging the lower ends of the of the bottles, so that each bottle isforcibly moved into and out of operative position with respect to thelabel atfixing instrumentalities by simultaneous engagement at its topand bottom, thus preventing tipping or upsetting of the bottles. Theupper conveying belts, which engage the tops of the bottles, areadjustable bodily to different heights, thus enabling bottles ofdifferent heights to be accommodated in the machine, as hereinafterdescribed. The label affixing instrumentalities operate successively oneach bottle during the continuous movement thereof by said conveyingmechanism, to apply adhesive or gum to a label and to interpose suchgummed label in the path of a moving bottle, so that the label is pickedoff by the bottle in its movement, means being provided to securelyatfix and press said label into proper position on the surface of thebottle, as hereinafter described. Each successively labeled bottle isthereafter carried forward by the continuous operation of the conveyingmechanism and is discharged, if desired, onto a suitable table orsupport.

Power is imparted to the machine through a belt pulley 1, which iscarried on a main shaft 2 journaled in suitable bearings 0n the rearside of a supporting stand or framework 3. A countershaft 4, driven bybeveled gears 5, 5 from the shaft 2, is employed for actuating theconveying mechanism above referred to, and also, indirectly, the bottlefeeding mechanism, as hereinafter described. The countershaft 4, at anintermediate point, has a bevel gear connection 6, 6 with a shaft 7 atthe bottle discharging end of the machine, said shaft 7 carrying thedriving sprockets for chains 8, 8 which constitute the lower endlesstraveling belt of the conveying mechanism. At the bottle receiving endof the machine, said chains 8 pass around suitable sprockets on a shaft9, which, through intermediate gearing 10, 11 and 12, Fig. 3, drives anadjacent shaft 13 carrying suitable sprockets for actuating endlesschains 14, 14 which constitute, as hereinafter described, the travelingbelt of the bottle feeding mechanism.

For positive engagement with the lower ends of the bottles, as fedthereto, the lower endless traveling chains 8 of the conveying mechanismhave upstanding transverse lugs or bars 15 attached thereto at regularinter-,

vals, and these bars 15, when engaging the bottles, move in unison andin substantial. alinement With similar bars 16 attached to chains 17, 17constituting the traveling endless upper belts of the conveyingmechanism. Said upper belts of the conveying mechanism, here shown astwo in number, one on each side of the label affixing mechanism, havetheir driving shafts and sprockets supported in suitable bearings of aframework 18, which is Vertically adjustable relative to the stationarysupporting stand 3. To this end, the supporting stand 3 carries ways 19,Fig. 6, for the sliding movement of framework 1.8 therein, saidframework having lugs 20, 20 in screw threaded engagement withvertically adjusting screws 21, 21 supported by stand 3. Each screw 21has a bevel gear connection 22, 22 with a shaft 23, which is journaledat the top of'stand 3 and has a hand wheel 24 thereon, whereby the samemay be rotated to revolve the screws 21, thus raising or lowering,through the threaded. lugs 20, the framework 18 which carries chains 17.In this way the height of the upper belts of the conveying mechanismabove the lower belt of said mechanism may b varied at will, to allowthe bars 16- of the upper belts to engage bottles of different heights.

For driving said upper belts of the conveying mechanism, thecountershaft 4 has a brawl gear 25 thereon, whosehub has a key ismovable longitudinally thereof so as to.

adjust itself to the various heights at which the upper traveling beltsof the conveying mechanism operate, for bottles of different sizes. Tothis end, the gear 25 is attached to a bracket 27 projecting from theadjustable framework 18, said gear being movable up and down with saidbracket and framework with respect to the rotating countershaft 4 withwhich it has a spline connec tion. The gear 25' is thus in constant meshwith a bevel gear 28, which is carried on the end of a shaft 29, thelatter being journaled in the framework 18 and carrying the sprocketsfor the chains 17 of the upper conveying belt at the discharge end ofthe machine. At the other end of said belt the chains 17 pass aroundsuitable sprockets on a shaft 30, which is journaled in the adjustablframework. The upper conveying belt at the bottle receiving end of themachine, on the other side of the label allixing mechanism, has itschains 1.7, 17 driven from countershaft 4 through a shaft 31, which hasa bevel gear 32 in constant mesh with gear 25 on countershaft 4. A bevelgear 33 transmits the rotation of shaft 31 to a shaft 34, which carriesthe driving sprockets for the chains 17, 17 of this upper conveying beltat the receiving end of the machine, said chains, at the other end ofsaid belt passing around suitable sprockets on a shaft 35 which isjournaled in the adjustable framework 18. Means are thus provided formoving the bottle engaging bars 16 of the upper conveying belts inunison and in approximate alinement with the corresponding bottleengaging bars 15 of the lower conveying belt,

so that the bottles, as received from the feedon a shaft 36 journaled inthe framework 3.

The bottles are placed indiscriminately 'on the feeding belt and arecarried forward thereby, toward the conveying mechanism, simply by theirfrictional contact with said belt, there being no engaging stops or barson said feeding belt. the function of which is to feed bottles, one at atime at proper intervals, to the conveying mechanism, said intervalsbeing determined by the conjoint arrival of engaging bars 15 and 16 oflower and upper conveying belts at the end of the conveying mechanismwhere the bottles are fed in. To this end, means are provided forpermitting only one bottle of those being advanced on the feeding beltto arrive at the end of said belt in position for engagement by the bars15 and 16, the remaining bottles on th feeding belt being arrested untilthe first bottle is carried forward by the conveying mechanism. afterwhich the leading bottle of those remaining on the feeding belt isreleased and advanced into position to be engaged by the next succeedingpair of bars 15 and 16 of the conveying mechanism.

The details of such an arrangement are shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thebottles in their movement by the feeding belt being preferably guidedthrough a channel constituted by side walls 37, 37 supported by theframework 3. Said side walls have openings .38 therein, Fig. 6, throughwhich project, on each side, the latches 39, pivoted at 40, 40 andhaving springs 41, 41 adapted to maintain their free ends 42 yieldinglyin the path of bottles being moved on the feeding belt. The tension ofeach spring 41 is such as to be overcome by the friction between abottle and the traveling feeding belt, so that the movement of a bottleby said belt into contact with the ends 42 will force said ends apart,allowing the bottle to pass thereby, when the latches 39 are free to beswung outwardly about their pivots 40. Each latch, however, is providedwith a notch 43, in osition to be engaged by the end of a loc ing lever44, pivoted at 45 and having a pro- ]ecting lug 46 in engagement with anextension 47 of the corresponding spring 41. hen the levers 44 arerocked from the positions shown in Fig. 4 to the positions shown in Fig.3, the notches 43 of latches 39 are engaged thereby, thus fixedlymaintaining the ends 42 of said latches in the path of the bottles, sothat a bottle brought into engagement with said latches has itsadvancing movement arrested, the feeding belt, however, continuing tomove and simply slipping past and under the bottle so held.

The locking levers 44 are actuated by the extensions 47 of springs 41,said extensions acting normally against the lugs 46 of said levers topress them into engagement with the notches 43, as shown in Fig. 3. Eachlever 44 carries at its .outer end a pin 48, in position to be engagedby a reciprocating member 49; the movement of said members 49 to theleft, Figs. 3 and 4, rocks the levers 44 from the positions shown inFig. 3 to the positions shown in Fig. 4, thereby releasing the latch 39,and permitting the friction between a bottle and the feeding belt toforce back said latches against the tension of springs 41. Each member49 carries at its inner end a finger 50, pivoted thereto at 51 and proecting through the corresponding opening 38, the inner ends of saidfingers projecting into the path of the bottles on the feeding belt, andthe outer end of each finger being engageable with a pin 52 carried bythe corresponding member 49. In advance of the fingers 50, the sidewalls 37 carry latches 53, pivoted at 54, with their free ends 55projecting through openings 33 and held yieldingly in the path of thebottles by s rings 56. The tension of springs 56 is, un llke that of thesprings 41, sufiicient to arrest the movement of a bottle brought incontact with latches notwithstanding the friction between said bottleand the traveling feeding belt, so that unless an additional force isapplied to move said bottle, it will be held by latches 53 indefinitelyin the position indicated at 57 in Fig. 4.

The operation of the mechanism above described is as follows :Themembers 49 are reciprocated in unison by a cam 58, Figs. 6 and 13, onshaft 2, said cam cotiperating with a cam roll 59 on arm 60, heldthereagainst by a spring 61 to oscillate and rock shaft 6:2, throughpivoted links 63 and 64. Attached to rock shaft 62 is an arm 65, Figs. 1and 3, having a suitable link connection 66 With the duplicate slidingmembers 49 on opposite sides of the feeding belt, said members beingrigidly connected in any suitable way to operate as a single element. Asshown in Fig. 4, the members 49 are atthe limit of their left handmove-ment, and as they move back toward the right, Fig. 4, theextensions 47 of springs 41 become effective to force levers 44-intonotches 43, thus locking the latches 39 and holding the bottles 67 and68 on the feeding belt, stationary. The continued movement of members 49to the right, Fig. 4, brings the fingers 50 against the bottle 57, whosemovement has been arrested by the ends 55 of latches 53. The movement ofsaid bottle 57 by said fingers 50 pushes back the latches 53 against thetension of relatively strong springs 56, and the bottle 57 is thuscarried forward to the conveying mechanism at just the right time to beengaged by a pair of bars 15, 16 of the conveying belts, it beingunderstood that the reciprocating members 49 are suitably timed tooperate in this manner. In pushing the bottle 57, Fig. 4, past thelatches 53, the pivoted fingers 50 are held rigid by the engagement oftheir outer ends with the pins 52.

The members 49, after pushing the bottle onto the conveying mechanism,have their movement reversed, and at the end of their reversed movementengage the pins 48 to rock the levers 44 and thus unlock the latches 39.Immediately] the friction between bottle 67 and the feeding belt issufficient to cause the retraction latches 39, and the bottle 67 passesforward to the position previously occupied by the bottle 57, itsmovement being arrested by the latches 53. In passing to this positionthe bottle 67 wipes past the fingers 50, as shown in Fig. 3, the pins 52offering no resistance to the movement of said fingers in thisdirection. Meanwhile, the bottle 68 moves into the position formerlyoccupied by the bottle 67, and can move no farther since the start ofthe return right hand movement of members 49 effects the locking oflatches 39, as previously described. Further movement of members 49 tothe right, Fig. 4, carries the bottles 67 onto the conveying mechanism,as previously described with reference to bottle 57, it being clear thatthe bottles placed on the feeding'belt are thus advanced successively,at proper intervals, to the conveying mechanism, so as to be spacedthereon the requisite distance apart.

The mechanism for aflixing a label to each bottle as it is carriedforward by the conveying mechanism includes a rotatable skeletonframework 69, shown in plan view in Fig.12 as having four pairs ofprojecting arms 70 arranged ninety degrees apart. Said arms are adaptedto have detachably connected thereto four pairs of dependent curvedmembers 71, Fig. 11, the space between each pair of members 71corresponding substantially to the shape of a bottle or other article tobe labeled. The members 71 may with advantage be supplied in sets ofeight each, each set being of a different size or different curvaturefrom every other set, so that the shape and size of the opening or spacebetween apair of members 71 may be varied at will, to suit the bottlesor other articles being labeled, it being understood that such articles,must pass between the members 71 of a pair in the act of having a labelapplied thereto. I have shown a construction of skeleton framework 69adapted tov have pairs of members 71 of varying curvature appliedthereto interchangeably so as to adapt the framework to the provision ofspaces suitable for the passage of bottles or articles of variousconformations. I also contemplate the employment with said pairs ofmembers 71, of detachab-ly hinged wings 72, shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6, 8and 9, but not shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Said wings 72 are attached inpairs to the members '71 so as practically to extend across a part ofthe space provided between said members for the passage of an article tobe labeled, yielding springs 73 being employed to maintain said wingsnormally flat against the outside edgesof members 71. The purposeof saidhinged wings is to. supplement the action of members 71 in the operationof applying labels to the bottles, as hereinafter more particularlydescribed, by way of increasing the range of usefulness of the machineand ren-,

dering it capable of operation with labels of practically any slze fromthe smallest to the line.

largest. However, it is to be understood that my invention is in nosense limited or confined to the use of such wings 72, or theirequivalents, it being clear that the skeleton framework 69 with itsattached members 71, will effect completely the application of labelswhether or not the wings 72 are employed.

The skeleton framework 69 is subject to intermittent rotation by themechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the shaft 31 having a bevel gearconnection 74 with a shaft 75 journaled above the same in an archedbracket 76. The shaft 77 attached to and projecting upwardly from theskeleton framework 69, has an intermittent drive connection with therotating shaft 75, con- 7 ing disk 79 engages the star wheel 78 in theusual manner to hold the shaft 77 and skeleton framework 69 stationaryafter each intermittent movement thereof by the pin 80. When so heldfrom rotation, after each quarter turn, the skeleton framework 69presents a pair of its members 71 in osition to be acted upon by agumming mec anism on the front side of the machine, as shown in Figs. 3and 5, the remaining pairs of membars 71 being disposed as shown in saidfigures, that is, the opposite pair at the back side of the machine andthe two other pairs straddling the path of the bottles through theconveying mechanism. The front side of the machine carries a gum box 82,Fig. 10, within whichis supported a rotating gumming cylinder 83,partially immersed in the liquid gum within said box and driven by abelt 84 connecting its pulley 85, Fig. 1, with a pulley 86, Fig. 6, onthe main shaft 2.

The main shaft 2 also carries a cam 87, Fig. 10, which, acting throughcam roll 88 on arm 89, held thereagainst by spring 90, effects thereciprocation of a yoke 91, by means of connecting link 92 and lever 93,

I said parts having suitable pin and slot pivthrough guiding sleeves 95at the ends of gum box 82, and carry at their upper ends the journals ofa gumming roll 96, whose surface becomes coated with gum at the end ofeach downward movement of the yoke, by rolling contact with the surfaceof gum carrying cylinder 83. With the upward'movement of roll 96, thegum thereon is transferred to the outer faces of a pair of members 71,held stationary in gum receiving position as above described, or totheir piv- The arms of said yoke pass slidably oted wings 72, if thelatter are used, as the case may be. Thereafter, when the roll 96 islowered, the framework 69 moves through ninety degrees in a clockwisedirection, Figs. 3 and 5, to carry the pair of members so gummed intothe next position of dwell, that is, into the path of the bottles beingmoved by the conveying mechanism.

This position, shown at the left hand end of Fig. 5, requires that thewings 72, if used, must be distended to allow a bottle to pass betweenmembers 71, as shown, and to this end said wings 72 are formed withextensions 97 for cooperation with adjustable plates 98, Fig. 8, on theends of posts 99 projecting upwardly through elongated openings 100 oneach side of the traveling conveying belt. A cam 101, on shaft 2,operating through cam roll 102 or lever 103, which is held thereagainstby spring 101, is employed to oscillate a rock shaft 105 at desiredintervals, through pivoted links 106 and 107. Rock shaft 105 has an arm108 attached thereto and pivota'lly connected at its free end with aSubstantially horizontal link 109, the latter having a pivotalconnection 'at its other end with a transverse bar 110. The bar 110 iscarried at its ends by slidable members 111 from which the posts 99project upwardly, the openings 100 affording suitable guideways for thereciprocation of members 111. I

In the operation of the above described mechanism for distending thewings 72, the cam 101 maintains the plates 98 to the left, Fig. 5, untilthe pair of members 71 reach a position in the path of the bottles;thereupon the cam acts quickly to move the plates 98 to the right, saidplates striking against the extensions 97 and thus swinging the wings 72into the position shown in Fig. 5. lVith the wings in this position, thebottle passes therebetween and between the members 71, and thereafterthe cam 101 moves the plates 98 to the left and thus allows the springs73 to return the gummed wings 72 to normalposition, that is, extendingacross the space between members 71.

The next quarter turn of the skeleton framework 69 carries the abovementioned pair of members 71, gummed as described, into position toreceive a label, either on the gummed faces of said members or on thegummed wings 72, provided the latter are used. To this end, the rearside of the machine provides a bracket 112, Fig.7, hav ing a slidewaytherein to receive a reciprocating member 113, which carries a label box114, a supply of labels 115 being disposed horizontally therein. Themember 113 has attached thereto a rack 116, the teeth of which are inmesh with a pinion 117 on rock shaft 118 journaled in bracket 112. Anarm 119, fast on said .rock shaft, is pivotally connected to a rod 120,Fig. 6, the latter having a fork 121 at its lower end, which is heldyieldingly by spring 122 in contact with a cam 123 on shaft 2. Theoscillation of pinion 117, by means of cam 123, causes the label box11-1 to move inwardly toward the gummed members 71, to carry theinnermost label of the supply or stack 115 into contact with the gummedsurfaces of said members 71 or their wings 72, as the case may be.

The adhesion of the innermost label to said gummed surfaces causes it tobe separated from the remaining labels when the box 11-1 movesoutwardly, suitable means, such as separators 124 of well knownconstruction, being used to prevent the withdrawal of more than onelabel in this fashion from the box. The supply 115 of labels is pressedagainst said separators by a follower plate 125 acting against the outerend of the stack, said plate having attached thereto a rack 126 passingthrough the outer end of the box and in mesh with a pinion 127 on shaft128, which is journaled in bear ings carried by said box. The shaft 128carries a ratchet 129, the same being engaged by a pawl 130 on aswinging arm 131, attached at its free end to a spring 132. The inwardmovement of arm 131., with box 114 and shaft 128, carries said armagainst a normally fixed adjustable stop 133, thus moving the pawl 130backward over the teeth of ratchet 129 and causing its engagement withanother tooth. The spring 132 thus exerts its force constantly to movethe follower plate 125 inwardly; as soon as labels are removed from thefront of the box, the spring acts, through pawl 130, ratchet 129, pinion127 and rack 126 to move the plate 125 inwardly, and thus a constantpressure on the supply of labels 115 is always maintained, irrespectiveof the size of said supply.

I Each arrival of a pair of gummed members 71 in front of thereciprocating label box 114 is normally followed by the application of asingle label to said gummed surfaces, in the manner above described,whereupon another quarter turn of the framework 69 carries said pair ofmembers 71 into the fourth and last position, where the label thus heldis wiped onto the surface of a traveling bottle, as hereinafterdescribed. But it sometimes happens that during the operation of themachine, a failure by the attendant to place a suflicient supply ofbottles on the feeding mechanism resultsin the absence of one or morebottles from the space surrounded by the framework 69, in whichcontingency it is desirable to prevent contact between the labels andthe gummed surfaces of members 71; in other words, to

prevent a useless feeding of labels when there are no bottles to receivesaid 'labels. To this end, a sliding plate 134 is interposed between theframework 3 and the reciprocating member 113, Figs. 5 and 7, with aspring 135 exerting its force to hold said plate in the position shownin Fig. 5, where a lug 136 of said plate is in the path of movement of aprojection 137 on the end of member 113. In the inward movement of labelbox 114, projection 137 would strike against lug 136 and would thusprevent contact between the innermost label and the gummed surfaces ofmembers 71, unless a bottle were going through the conveying mechanismat the proper time to have this label afiixed thereto. If such a bottleis being carried forward, as shown in Fig. 5, it strikes against acurved arm 138 of a bell crank, pivoted at 139, and having its other arm140 forked to embrace a pin 141 on plate 134. The movement of said bellcrank, by the contact of a bottle therewith, slides the plate 134forward, so that the lug 136 is carried out of alinement with projection137, thus allowing the label box to complete its full stroke, and leavethe innermost label upon the gummed surfaces of members 71, aspreviously described.

The last of the four positions successively assumed by each pair ofmembers 71, finds them again in the path of the traveling bottles, butthis time with a label extending across them, and held by the moist umon their outer surfaces, or on the surfaces of wings 72, as the case maybe. In this position, the movement of a bottle, as shown in Fig. 5,presses the wings 72 apart and strips the label therefrom, said labeladhering to the surface of the moving bottle. In the act of thusapplying the label to the bottle, it is desirable to employ a pair ofwipers 142, preferably made of some flexible material, such as rubber,so as to yield to the movement of the bottle and to hug its surfaceclosely as it passes therebetween. Said wipers 142 may be attached tostationary posts on each side of the conveying mechanism, and if shortlabels are being used, the action above described will, in most cases,be sulficient to firmly affix the label to the bottle. But whenlongerlabelsare employed, adapted to extend much more than half wayaround the bottle, it is desirable to have the wipers 142 follow thecontour of the bottle during its entire movement therebetween,.

and, to this end, the supports 143 of said wipers are made to moveoutwardly as the bottle advances, by the mechanism shown in detail inFig. 9. In said figure said supports 143 are carried on slides 144 Whichmove in elongated transverse ways 145 of the framework, and said slideshave depending portions extending below the framework and carrying camrolls 146. The latter are acted upon by the raised portions of face cams147 to retract the slides 144 as the bottle advances, the springs 148serving to hold the cam rolls 146 against said cams so that the slidesmove inwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, when the low portions of said camsbecome operative. The cams 147 are mounted on a transverse shaft 149which is driven by sprockets 150 thereon, engaging the chains 8 of thelower conveying mechanism. The wipers 142 may thus be made to follow thelabel completely around the surface of the bottle, irrespective of thelength of said label, but it is to be understood that the provision ofthe above described mechanism is in no sense essential to the operationof my machine, since the wipers, if desired, can be fixed, and when sofixed, will ordinarily sufiice to press the label into complete con-itact with the surface of the bottle.

For the purpose of supplementing the action of the label devices, asabove described, I prefer to employ some means for insuring againstslippage of the label on the surface of the bottle, during the act ofmoving the same between said wipers, and to this end I may employ agripper 151, having one or more contacting portions 152, of cushionmaterial such as felt or rubber, to press the center of the labelagainst the surface of the bottle, and to hold said center in positionwhile the bottle is being moved between the wipers 142, as shown in Fig.5. Said gripper 151 is mounted 011 a bar 153, which is pivoted at 154 toa sliding member 155. A cam 156, Fig. 14, on shaft 2, is operativethrough cam roll 157, carried on lever 158 and held thereagainst byspring 159 to oscillate a rock shaft 160, by means of a pivoted linkconnection 161. The oscillation of rock shaft 160 is imparted to member155 through links 162, thus moving the gripper into contact with thecenter of the label just as the advancing bottle wipes said label off ofthe members 71 or the wings 72, as the case may be. Thereafter, thegripper travels with the bottle, during the action thereon of the Wipers142, thus holding the label firmly centered and preventing its slippage.The pivoted bar 153 of said gripper has rigid therewith an arm 163, Fig.5, and a roller 164 on the end of said arm travels in contact with anirregular cam surface 165 'on a stationary plate 166 attached to theframework. WVhen the high portion 167 of cam 165 becomes effective, thegripper is caused to travel faster than the bottle, this actionoccurring after the wipers 142 have tions 153' and 151, Fig. 5, thusmoving the parts out of the path of the bottle and allowing the latterto pass forward on the conveying mechanism. Thereafter, the gripper andits associated mechanism is returned to normal position, to operate onthe next succeeding bottle.

In the operation of the machine, as above described, the bottles aremoved continuously forward by the conveying mechanism, whose speed is sorelated to the periods of intermittent rotation of the label affixingmechanism that a bottle will enter the space inclosed by the skeletonframework 69 at every quarter turn thereof. Obviously also, the bottleimmediately ahead of the entering bottle will have-its label affixedthereto as it passes out of said space simultaneously with the entranceof the nextsucceeding bottle to said space. At the same time, the gumapplying mechanism will operate with respect to one pair of members 71,and the label box will be carried forward against the other pair ofmemhere 71, to deposit a label on the previously gummed surfacesthereof. The bottles, thus labeled at the rate of one per each quarterturn of the skeleton framework 69, are carried forward by the conveyingmechanism and run out on a receiving table 168 at the end of supportingframework 3, whence they are moved by the operator, or any othersuitable disposition made of them.

lVhile I have shown the gumming mechanism and the reciprocating labelbox on opposite sides of the machine, it is clear that my invention isnot in any sense limited to this arrangement and disposition of parts.

Various changes and modifications in the mechanism as described aboveare clearly within the scope of those skilled in the art to which myinvention pertains, and such changes do not affect in any way thebroadly new principles with which the invention is concerned, the samebeing defined in the annexed claims.

I claim,

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with labelaffixing mechanism, of a conveying mechanism for the articles to belabeled, comprising upper and lower series of spaced traveling conveyingdevices to engage, respectively, the upper and lower ends of successivearticles to be presented to said label affixing mechanism, and means forbodily adjusting the upper conveying devices to vary the distancebetween said upper and lower series, whereby to accommodate saidconveying mechanism to articles of different heights.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with labelaffixing mechanism, of a conveying mechanism for the articles to belabeled, comprising'a series of spaced traveling engaging devicesadapted for contact with the lower ends of the articles, and two seriesof spaced traveling conveying devices, one series on each side of saidlabel affixing mechanism, adapted for contact with the upper ends ofsaid articles.

3. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination with labelaflixing mechanism, of a. conveying mechanism for the articles to belabeled, comprising a series of spaced traveling engaging devicesadapted for confact with the lower ends'of the articles, and two seriesof spaced traveling conveying devices, one series on each side of saidlabel affixing mechanism, adapted for contact with the upper ends ofsaid articles, and means for moving both upper series simultaneouslytoward and from said lower series, to accommodate said conveyingmechanism to articles of different heights.

4. In a labeling machine, the combination with label affixing mechanism,of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled inspaced relation thereto, means for feeding articles to said conveyingmechanism, and means for retarding the movement of each article by saidfeeding means until the article previously fed to said conveyingmechanism has been moved thereby a predetermined distance.

5. In a labeling machine, the combination with label affixing'mechanism,of a. conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled inspaced relation thereto, frictionally engaging feeding means for movingthe articles toward said conveying mechanism, means arresting themovement of each article by said frictionally engaging means, and meansfor engaging each article, so arrested, to move it onto said conveyingmechanism.

6. In a labeling machine, the combination with label aflixing mechanism.of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled inspaced relation therefor, frict-ionally engaging feeding means formoving the articles toward said conveying mechanism, yielding meansadapted to arrest the nism, retarding means normally interposed in thepath of the articles on said frictionally engaging feeding means andadapted to yield when engaged thereby, means for locking said retardingmeans in operative position, and reciprocating means for releasing saidlocking means at intervals to allow the passage of a single article pastsaid retarding means.

8. In a labeling machine, the combination with label afiixing mechanism,of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled inspaced relation thereto, frictionally engaging feeding means for movingthe articles toward said conveying mechanism, retarding means normallyinterposed in the path of articles on said frictionally engaging feedingmeans and adapted to yield when engaged thereby, means for locking saidretarding means in operative position, and reciprocating means forreleasing said locking means at intervals to allow the passage of asingle article past said retarding means, said reciprocating meansadapted, on its return movement, to positively engage a previouslyreleased article to carry it onto said conveying mechanism.

9. In a labeling machine, the combination with label aflixing mechanism,of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to be labeled inspaced relation thereto, frictionally engaging feeding means for movingthe articles toward said conveying mechanism, retarding means normallyinterposed in the path of articles on said frictionally engaging feedingmeans and! adapted to yield when engaged thereby, means for locking saidretarding means in operative position, reciprocating means for releasingsaid locking means at intervals to allow the passage of a single articlepast said retarding means, and yielding means adapted to arrest themovement of each released article by said frictionally engaging feeding.means, the return movement of said reciprocating means serving to forcean article past said yielding arresting means, onto said conveyingmechanism.

10. In a labeling machine, the combination with label afiixingmechanism, of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to belabeled in spaced relation thereto, frictionally engaging feeding meansfor moving the articles toward said conveying mechanism, retarding meansnormally interposed in the path of articles on said frictionallyengaging feeding means and adapted to yield when engaged thereby, meansfor looking said retarding means in operative position, reciprocatingmeans for releasing said locking means at intervals to allow the passageof a single article past said retarding means, yielding means adapted toarrest the movement of each released article by said frictionallyengaging feeding means, and pivoted devices carried by saidreciprocatingmeans for engaging and pushing an article past said yielding arrestingmeans onto said conveying mechanism, said devices, on the reversemovement of said reciprocating means, being engaged and swung outwardlyby the previously released article.

11. In a labeling machine, the combination with label afiixingmechanism, of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to belabeled in spaced relation to said affixing mechanism, meansfrictionally engaging the articles to feed them toward said conveyingmechanism, retarding means interposed in the path of articles on saidfeeding means and normally locked to prevent the advancement of articlesthereby, and means for unlocking said retarding means at predeterminedintervals to permit the feeding of a single article by said feedingmeans to said conveying means.

12. In a labeling machine, the combination with label aflixingmechanism, of a conveying mechanism for advancing the articles to belabeled in spaced relation to said aflixing mechanism, meansfrictionally engaging the articles to feed them toward said conveyingmechanism, retarding means interposed 1n the path of articles on saidfeedmg means and normally locked to prevent the advancement of articlesthereby, means for unlocking said retarding means at predeterminedintervals to permit the feeding of a single article by said feedingmeans toward said conveying means, yieldable means for arresting theadvancement of each single article so fed by'said feeding means, andmeans carried by said unlocking means for pushing said article past saidyieldable means onto said conveying mechanism.

, 13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with articleconveying mechanism, for -moving the articlesto be labeled in alongitudinal path through the.

machine, of label carrying means adapted for rotation in thelongitudinal path of articles on said conveying mechanism, means forfeeding a label to said label carrying means, and means for preventingthe operation of said feeding means unless an article is in position onsaid conveying mechanism to receive, ultimately, said label.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with articleconveying mechanism, for moving the articles to be labeled in a.longitudinal path through the machine, of a rotating label carryingmeans adapted for rotation in the longitudinal path of articles on saidconveying mechanism, and a label feeding mechanism adapted to transfer alabel to said label carrying means only when an article is in osition onsaid conveying mechanism to ult1mately receive said label.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with articleconveying mechanism, for moving the articles to be labeled in alongitudinal path through the machine, of a rotating label carryingmeans adapted for rotation in the longitudinal mally interposed in thepath of said feeding means to render it inoperative, and meansresponsive to the movement of an article on said conveying mechanism forWithdrawing said stop.

17. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with means for moving successive articles to be labeled,of a rotating device having its axis intersecting the path of saidarticles, said device having an opening therethrough for the passage ofsaid articles, means for applying gum to said device on opposite sidesof said opening, and means for causing the temporary adhesion ofsuccessive labels with the gummed portions of said device.

18. In a machine of the class described, conveying means for an articleto be labeled, a member having spaced surfaces for the passage of saidarticle therebetween, said member adapted to rotate about a verticalaxisat right angles to the path of movement of said article, means forapplying gum to said surfaces of said member, means for procuring theadhesion of a label to said surfaces, and means for interrupting therotation of said member to dispose said label in the path of saidtraveling article.

19. In a machine of the class described, conveying means for an articleto be labeled, a rotating member having spaced surfaces for the passageof said article therebetween, the axis of rotation of said memberintersecting said conveying means, means for moving said member intoposition to receive gum on said surfaces, and to receive a labeladhering to said gum, and means for thereafter moving said member intothe path of a traveling article.

20. In a machine of the classdescribed, a rotating label carrying deviceresenting a pair of spaced surfaces adapted to slipport adhesivly alabel extending across the space therebetween, said space beingadjustable to permit the passage therethrough of articles of varioussizes and shapes, and means for moving an article between said spacedsurfaces and through the axis of rotation of said label carryingdevices.

21. In a machine of the class described, a rotating label carryingdevice presenting a pair of spaced surfaces adapted to supportadhesively a label extending across the space therebetween, said spacebeing defined by members detachably connected to said device, whereby tovary its size and shape,

and means for moving an article between said spaced surfaces and throughthe axis of rotat-1on of said label carrylng devlces.

In a machine of the class described,

a rotating label carrying device presenting a pair of spaced surfacesadapted to support adhesively a label extending across the' spacetherebetween, said surfaces being detachably connected, to permit ofvarying the size of said space, and means for moving an article betweensaid spaced surfaces and through the axis of rotation of said labelcarrying devices.

23. In a machine of the class described, a rotating framework havingportions thereof spaced apart for the passage therebetween of atraveling article, label carrying wings carried by said portions andnormally lying in the space therebetween, said wings yielding to thepassage of an article through said space, and means for moving anarticle between said spaced portions and through the axis of rotation ofsaid framework.

24. In a machine of the class described, a pair of members spaced apartfor the passage therebetween of a traveling article, pivoted labelcarrying wings extending from said members and yieldingly held in theplane of said space, and means for moving said wings to permit thepassage of an article through said space.

25. In a machine of the class described, a pair of members spaced apartfor the passage therebetween of a traveling article, label carryingwings extending from said members into said space and yieldable in onedirection to permit the passage, in one position of said members, of anarticle through said space, and means, operative in another position ofsaid members, to move said Wings outwardly, to permit the passage of anarticle through said space.

26. In a machine of the class described, a label carrying member adaptedfor rotation about an axis intersecting the path of a traveling article,said member presenting spaced surfaces, means for applying gum to saidsurfaces for the adhesion thereto of a label extending across said spaceand means for thereafter rotating said member to dispose,the spacebetween said surfaces in the path of a traveling article.

27. In a machine of the class described, a label carrying member adaptedfor rotation about an axis intersecting the path of a traveling article,said member presenting spaced surfaces, means for applying gum to saidsurfaces for the adhesion thereto of a label extending across saidspace, said means comprising a gum transferring element adapted toreciprocate on said surfaces, and means for thereafter rotating saidmember to dispose the space between said surfaces in the ath of atraveling article.

28. In a'mac ine of the class described, a rotating member presentingspaced surfaces for the passage of an article therebetween, means,comprising a reciprocating element, for applying gum to said surfaces,and means, reciprocating substantially at right angles to said element,for applying a label to the surfaces so gummed.

29. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a labelcarrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the pathof a traveling article, said member providing spaced surfaces for thepassage of an article therebetween, and adapted to receive, adhesively,a label extending across said space, of means for interrupting therotation of said member to dispose said space in the longitudinal pathof a traveling article, and means for moving an article through saidspace to cause the adhesion of said label thereto.

30. In-a machine of the class described, the combination with "a labelcarrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the pathof a traveling article, said member providing spaced surfaces for thepassage of an article therebetween, and adapted to receive, adhesively,a label extending across said space, of means for interrupting therotation of said member to dispose said space in the longitudinal pathof a traveling article, means for moving an article through said spaceto cause the adhesion of said'label thereto, and means engaging saidlabel on its face to press it against said article during the lattersmovement through said space.

31. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a labelcarrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the pathof a traveling article, said member providing spaced surfaces for thepassage of an article therebetween, and adapted to receive, adhesively,a label exterrupting the rotation of said member to I dispose said spacein the longitudinal path of a traveling article, means for moving anarticle through said space to cause the adhesion of said label thereto,and yielding means interposed in the path of an article emerging fromsaid space, for wiping contact with the surface of the label.

32. In a machine of the class described, the combination with alabelcarrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting thepath of a traveling article, said member providing spaced surfaces forthe passage of an article therebetween, and

adapted to receive, adhesively, a label extending across said space, ofmeans for interrupting the rotation of said member to dispose said spacein the longitudinal path of a traveling article, means for moving anarticle through said space to cause the adhesion of said label thereto,and means for wiping said label, on each side of its center, against thesurface of the article, as the latter emerges from said space.

33. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a memberproviding spaced surfaces for the passage of an article therebetween,and adapted to receive, adhesively, a label extending across said space,of means for interrupting the rotation of said member to dispose saidspace in the longitudinal path of a traveling article, means for movingan article through said space to cause the adhesion of said labelthereto, and means for wiping said label, on each side of its center,against the surface of the article, as the latter emerges from saidspace, said wiping means adapted to recede progressively as said articleis moved thereby. V

34.. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a labelcarrying member adapted for rotation about an axis intersecting the pathof a traveling article, said member providing spaced surfaces for thepassage of an article therebetween, and adapted to receive, adhesively,a label extending across said space, of means for interrupting therotation of said member to dispose said space in the lon itudinal pathof a traveling article, means or moving an article through said space tocause the adhesion of said label thereto, means for wiping said label,on each side of itscenter', against the surface of the article, as thelatter emerges from said space, and means for pressing the center ofsaid label into contact with said article during the operation of saidwiping meansfi 35. In a machine of the class described, the combinationwith a label carrying member adapted for rotation about an axisintersecting the path of a traveling article, said member rovidingspaced surfaces for the passage of an article therebetween, and

adapted to receive, adhesively, a label extending across said space, ofmeans for interrupting the rotation of said member to dispose said spacein the longitudinal path of a traveling article, means for moving anarticle through said space to cause the ad hesion of said label thereto,means movable With said article after passage through said space, forpressing said label into contact therewith, and means for Withdrawingsaid 10 pressing means from the path of sald article.

Dated this 13th day of February, 1917.

GEORGE ARVID ANDERSON.

Witnesses NELLIE WHALEN, PENELOPE CoMBERBAo

